RED ALERT! Mystery Illness In Indiana Prison - 1 Dead, 4 Critical - UPDATE: It's H1N1 Swine Flu!

Flu confirmed as source of outbreak at Putnamville Correctional Facility

snips

The 35-year-old inmate, co-infected with MRSA, died on January 22. Prison officials say he had been healthy.

13 prisoners are still in the hospital. Two of them are in the ICU. Indiana Department of Corrections Chief Medical Officer, Michael Mitcheff, says one is on a respirator and is very ill. The other is showing signs of pneumonia.

In addition, two staff members went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. Both were treated and released.

About 1,500 inmates got the flu vaccine when it was first offered last October. It is now being offered again to inmates and staff. Those who are showing symptoms are being given Tamiflu.

[link to www.theindychannel.com]

We actually had Swine Flu in 2009. It was awful. But at that time I remember folks predicting it would come back worse another time although I don't think anyone thought it would be this long.

Some additional info:


Flu confirmed as source of outbreak at Putnamville Correctional Facility

As soon as prison officials realized they weren't dealing with the 'typical' flu, the State Health Department and CDC were contacted.

Authorities say what makes this outbreak unique is that it started with flu-like symptoms, but a few inmates developed rapidly progressing pneumonia.

Patients who were co-infected with the flu and MRSA were much worse.

The State Board of Health says MRSA can develop after a viral infection sets in.

The prison's chief medical officer says it isn't unusual to have seven or eight people with flu-like symptoms, but what is unusual the time is the severity.

[link to www.theindychannel.com]